Whooping cough cases climb in Texas

Texas health officials say the number of people sick with whooping cough statewide is on track to reach the highest level in more than 50 years.

The Texas Department of State Health Services on Tuesday urged people to make sure they are vaccinated against the highly contagious disease that causes a severe cough.

There have been almost 2,000 cases reported so far this year, with the annual total likely to surpass the recent high of 3,358 cases in 2009. Twenty people in the Coastal Bend have been diagnosed with whooping cough, including 11 in Nueces County.

Two infants, in Midland and Dallas counties, have died from whooping cough this year. Both were too young to be vaccinated. Last year, six died, including three who died at Driscoll Children's Hospital.

Whooping cough spreads easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. While infants are most at risk, people of all ages can get whooping cough.